Polyesters stabilized with substituted p-benzoquinones



Patented Sept. 9, 1952 POLYESTERS STABILIZED WITH SUBSTI- TUTED P-BENZOQUIN ONES Thomas F. Anderson, Huntsville, Ala., assignor to Libbey-Owens-Ford Glass Company, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio N Drawing. Application August 1'7, 1951, Serial No. 242,417

The invention relates to stabilized thermosetting compositions, and more particularly to'stabilized thermosetting compositions containing a polymerizable unsaturated alkyd.

A polymerizable unsaturated alkyd (i. e., a polymerizable unsaturated polyhydric alcoholpolycarboxylic acid polyester) is highly advantageous as a starting material for the production of hardened synthetic resins in that it is resinous in character before polymerization, and is fusible at a temperature at which polymerization is not rapid. Other heat-hardenable compositions, such as urea-formaldehyde and phenol-formaldehyde compositions, are much more difiicult to fabricate because they do not exist as plastic resins at temperatures much below their hardening temperatures. Since a heat-hardenable composition can be shaped only while it is in a fused condition, the failure of other heat-hardenable compositions to reach a fused state below their hardening temperatures is a great handicap in fabricating operations. By the time a ureaformaldehyde or phenol-formaldehyde composition has reached a fused state in a fabricating operation, its hardening already has begun, so that the hardening interferes with the shaping or molding of the composition.

A saturated heat-hardenable alkyd, such as glycerol phthalate, is hardened by esterification with elimination of water. An alkyd that is hardened by esterification cannot be employed to make a molded article or other solid body, because it is too difficult to remove water from the interior of such a solid body in order to complete the hardening. Even urea-formaldehyde and phenol-formaldehyde compositions tend to give off small amounts of volatiles as they are hardened in a mold. In contrast, a polymerizable unsaturated alkyd hardens by polymerization without evolution of volatiles.

These important advantages have made polymerizable unsaturated alkyds of great commercial value; nevertheless the commercialization of such alkyds has been seriously impeded by the fact that such alkyds lack stability after the addition of the polymerization catalyst that is necessary to cause polymerization to take place. In the manufacture of commercial products from such alkyds, polymerization in the presence of a polymerization catalyst ordinarily is carried out 11 Claims. (Cl. 260-454) 2 at an elevated temperature in order to cause the polymerization to take place rapidly. After the addition of a polymerization catalyst to such an alkyd, however, polymerization proceeds slowly at atmospheric temperatures. The rate of polymerization at atmospheric temperatures after the incorporation of a polymerization catalyst is rapid enough so that in a few days the alkyd may become a substantially infusible, worthless mass that cannot be formed into any useful product.

The useful life of a polymerizable unsaturated alkyd after incorporation of a polymerization catalyst is so short that it does not afford sufiicient time for a manufacturer to ship the catalyst-containing alkyd to a user. For that reason it was formerly the practice for the manufacturer of a polymerizable unsaturated alkyd to ship the alkyd without incorporating the polymerization catalyst, so that it was necessary for the user of the alkyd to add the required proportion of the catalyst just before the alkyd was used. The minute proportion of a polymerization catalyst required for a small batch of the material must be weighed out very accurately, then incorporated very uniformly throughout the batch. Uniform incorporation of a catalyst in a solid material such as a molding composition is a particularly difficult operation and requires very expensive equipment.

Certain inhibitors for the polymerization of unsaturated alkyds are known. It has been found, however, that the addition of such an inhibitor to a mixture of a polymerizable unsaturated alkyd and a polymerization catalyst has no better effect than the omission of part of the polymerization catalyst from the mixture. The addition of such an inhibitor not only retards the polymerization of the mixture at atmospheric temperatures to the same extent as the polymerization would have been retarded by omission of a certain proportion of the polymerization catalyst from the mixture, but also interferes with the polymerization at molding tempera tures, particularly after the material has been stored for a few days, so as to impair the quality of the molded product to the same extent as the quality would have been impaired if that same proportion of the polymerization catalyst had been omitted. These inhibitors are of no value for the purpose of stabilization, because it is use:

less to add an inhibitor when exactly the same efiect can be obtained by omitting part of the polymerization catalyst. Certain substances are known which, in conjunction with oxygen, have the effect of greatly retarding the polymerization at atmospheric temperatures of a mixture of a polymerizable unsaturated alkyd and a polymerization catalyst, without producing a corresponding impairment of the quality of the molded product. (Such substances are referred to as stabilizers to distinguish them from ordinary inhibitors.) However, the stabilizing efiect in that case is the combined eiTect of oxygen and the stabilizing substance. The stabilizing effect is not produced by such a substancealone, but requires the presence of oxygen. Therefore, in order to stabilize a mixture of a polymerizable unsaturated alkyd and a polymerization catalyst by means of such a substance, it has been necesv sary to prepare the composition, containing such a substance, in a physical form such that the composition is thoroughly permeated by air.

In many applications it is inconvenient or impractical to maintain a composition containing a polymerizable unsaturated alkyd (which is ordinarily a liquid) and a polymerization catalyst in such physical form that it is thoroughly permeated by air, but no substances have been known to retard the polymerization of such a compositionat atmospheric temperatures without producing a corresponding impairment of the quality of the molded product, except certain substances that produce such effect only so long as the composition is thoroughly permeated by air.

- The principal object of the invention is the stabilization of a mixture of a polymerizable unsaturated alkyd and a polymerization catalyst without the necessity of keeping the composition permeated by air. More specific objects and advantages are apparent from the following description, which illustrates and discloses but is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The present invention is based upon the discovery that a certain type or" substance has the effect of greatly retarding the polymerization at atmospheric temperatures of a mixture of a polymerizable unsaturated alkyd and a polymerization catalyst, even while air is excluded from the-mixture, without producing a corresponding impairment of the quality of the molded product. The fact that the stabilizing efiect obtained in the practice of the invention does not require the presence of oxygen has been demonstrated as follows:

One of the stabilizers heretofore used (0.2 gram of guaiacol) and a polymerization catalyst (3.0- grams of benzoyl peroxide) were mixed intimately with 100 grams of a polymerizable unsaturated alkyd and grams of diallyl phthalate (an unsaturated substance that is capable of copolymerizing with the unsaturated alkyd), and the resulting viscous liquid was mixed with 180 grams of asbestos fiber in a Banbury mixer. The resulting mixture was removed from the Banbury mixer in the form of a solid lump about two inches in diameter. After standing for three weeks at atmospheric temperature, the lump of material had polymerized to a worthless mass. Thus it was demonstrated that the stabilizing efiect is not produced by this known stabilizer alone in the absence of oxygen.

The procedure described in the preceding paragraph was repeated, but in this case the guaiacol was replaced by an equal amount of thymoquinone monoxime (a stabilizer of the present inven- 4 tion). At the end of three weeks, the composition was still fusible and could be molded into useful articles under heat and pressure.

Since a stabilized thermosetting molding composition embodying the invention does not require the incorporation of a catalyst by the user, it can be used by small fabricators who have no equipment for incorporating a catalyst in a molding composition, and can be used more economically by large fabricators than a material requiring the addition of a catalyst by the user.

A composition embodying the invention comprises (l) a polymerizable unsaturated alkyd whose molecule contains a plurality of polymerizable reactive .n -enedioyl groups; (2) a catalyst or the class consisting of organic peroxides and organic ozonides; and (3) an agent for increasing the stability of the composition at atmospheric temperatures without proportionately decreasing the curability of the composition, of the class consisting of substituted p-benzo- 'quinones having not more than two nuclear substituents and having from six to eleven carbon atoms, any nuclear substituent other than an alkyl radical consisting of a halogen atom having an atomic weight between 35 and 80, and any substituents replacing oxygen atoms being of the class consisting of (a) from one to two hydroximino radicals and (b) from one to two chlorimino radicals.

Preferably the composition also contains a polymerizable substance having at least one (preferably more than one) OH2=C group per molecule and having a boiling point above degrees C. The properties of finished articles produced by polymerization of a composition embodying the invention are better whenthe composition contains such a substance, so that such a substance is ordinarily used in the composition. It is believed that because of their large size the alkyd molecules are not mechanically well adapted to polymerize with one another and that the better properties of finished articles produced from a composition containing a polymerizable substance having at least one CH2=C group per molecule and having a boiling point above 80 degrees C. are due to the superior curability of such a composition. Such a polymerizable substance is believed to impart better curability to the composition because of its ability to cross link the unsaturated alkyd molecules by copolymerizing with such molecules.

STABILIZER A stabilizer of the invention increases the stability at atmcspheric temperatures of a composition comprising a polymerizable unsaturated alkyd and a catalyst, without proportionately decreasing the curability of the composition. The stabilizer in a composition embodying the invention is a substance of the class consisting of substituted p-benzoquinones having not more than two nuclear substituents and having from six to eleven carbon atoms, any nuclear substituent other than an alkyl radical consisting of a halogen atom having an atomic weight between 35 and 80, and any substituents replacing oxygen atoms being of the class consisting of (a) from one to two hydroximino radicals and (b) from one to two chlorimino radicals.

A substituted p-benzoquinone having not more than two nuclear substituents and having from six to eleven carbon atoms which acts as a stabilizer in the present invention may be (1) a monoor dinuelearly-substituted p-benzoquinone in which each nuclear substituent consists of a halogen atom having an atomic weight between 35 and 80 (i. e., a chlorine or bromine atom) or an alkyl side chain having from one to live carbon atoms (1. e., a methyl, ethyl, propyl, or isopropyl radical or a primary, secondary or tertiary butyl or amyl radical), the total number of carbon atoms in the alkyl substituents being not more than five; (2) p-benzoquinone or a nuclearly-substituted p-benzoquinone as defined in (1) above in which from one to two oxygen atoms have been replaced by hydroximino radi cals; and (3) p-benzoquinone or a nuclearly-substituted p-benzoquinone as defined in (1) above in which from one to two oxygen atoms have been replaced by chlorimino radicals.

Examples of stabilizers which may be used in the present invention as defined in (1) above include:

and 2,6-dichloroquinone 0 ll c1-O o1 II o Stabilizers as defined in (2) above include: Quinone dioxime and thymoquinone monoxime CH(CH3):

' 6 and stabilizers as defined in (3) above include: Quinone chlorimide v ital I t and 2,6-dibromoquinone chlorimide Of course, desmotropesoi stabilizers as defined in (2) above mayalso be used. For example, nitrosothymol' L which is desmotropic with thymoquinone monoxime acts as a stabilizer in the practice of the invention. I l

,The preferred, stabilizers are those having at least one nuclear substituent, particularly monoalkyl-substituted p-benzoquinones such as p-toluquinone. The preferred stabilizers also include those having at least one, nuclear halogen atom having an atomic weight between 35 and 80. particularly the monoor di-halo-substituted p-benzoquinones such as 2,6-dichloroquinone.

CATALYST A stabilized thermosetting composition of the invention contains a catalyst of the class consisting of organic peroxides and organic ozonides, which is essential for rapid polymerization of the composition at molding temperatures. The term organic peroxides includes compounds having the general formula wherein R is alkyl, aralkyl, acyl, or hydroxysubstituted or halo-substituted alkyl, aralkylor acy, and Y is hydrogen or is of the same class as Acidic peroxides in which Y and R are acyl or hydroxyor halo-substituted acyl, which may be used as catalysts in the practice of the invention include: bis(benzoyl) peroxide, bis(p-bromobenzoyl) peroxide, bis(phthaly1) peroxide, bis(pchlorobenzoyl) peroxide, bis(dichlorobenzoyl) peroxide, bis(succinyl) peroxide, acetyl benzoyl 7 peroxide,:bis(acetyl) peroxide and b'is (chloro.- acetyl) peroxide. Peroxy acids in whichR is acyl and Y is hy drogen, and peroxy acid esters in which R is acyl and Y is alkyl or aralkyl, which act as curing catalysts in the present invention, include peracetic acid, perbenzoic acid, t-butyl perbenzoate and benzyl peracetate.

Hydrogen peroxides in which R is alkyl or aralkyl and Y is hydrogen, which act as curing catalysts in the present invention, include t-butyl hydroperoxide.

Organic ozonides which may be used as curing catalysts in the practice of the present invention include diisopropylene ozonide and diisobutylene ozonide.

Mixtures of organic peroxides and organic ozonides may also be used as the curing catalyst. Organicperoxides in which R is benzoyl or halo: substituted benzoyl such as benzoyl peroxide. (i. e., b'is(benzoyl) peroxide, bis(p-chlorobenzoyl) peroxide, bis(p-bromobenzoyl) peroxide, bis(dichlorobenzoyl) peroxide, and t-butyl perbenzoate, are very efiective in the production of molded products having good cured quality.

FILLER/S A stabilized thermosetting composition of the invention may contain a filler. The filler may be an organic filler (i. e., a filler from a vegetable or animal source) or an inorganic or mineral filler. Organic fillers which may be used include alpha cellulose, which is the purest and lightestcolored organic material ordinarily available, and cotton linters. Inorganic or mineral fillers which may be used include fibrous fillers such as glass fiber or asbestos, and non-fibrous fillers such as ground glass, clay, mica, talc or calcium silicate.

POLYMERIZABLE UN SATURATED ALKYD Any unsaturated alkyd whose molecule contains a plurality .of polymerizable reactive A -enedioyl groups that is polymerizable into an infusible resin at ordinary molding temperatures, or any mixture of such alkyds with one another or with one or more other materials which may or may not be polymerizable, may be used in the practice of the present invention. The polymerizable unsaturated alkyd may be a limpid liquid of very low. viscosity, or a tacky, viscous liquid, or

maybe of any consistency depending upon the materials used in its preparation and the degree to which they are reacted.

A polymerizable unsaturated alkyd used in the practice of the invention is prepared by reaction of one or more polyhydric alcohols with one or more polycarboxylic acids having in the molecule at least one polymerizably reactive A -enoyl group, having the structure and carboxy groups without attainment of excessive viscosity (i. e., through cross-linking). For the purpose of the instant invention it is to be understood that the term unsaturated alkydv means'an alkyd that is polymerizable into an infusible or high melting point resin; so the proportion of unsaturated components should be such that the alkyd contains an average of at least threedouble bonds per molecule.

The present invention is applicable to all polymerizable unsaturated alkyds. Preferably, the alkyd is an ester of a glycol with a dicarboxy alkene having from four to five carbon atoms, in which the carboxy radicals are attached to adjacent carbon atoms (i. e., maleic, fumaric, ita-v conic, citraconic or mesaconic acid). However, as long as the .A2 -en0yl groups are polymerizably reactive, the polycarboxylic acid is not necessarily a hydrocarbon dicarboxyllc acid but may contain any radicals (e. g., chloro groups) which do not render the A enoyl groups polymerizably non-reactive. The alkyd may be an ester of a polycarboxylic acid with any glycol, such as any polymethylene glycol in the series from ethylene glycol to decamethylene glycol, propylene glycol, any butylene glycol, any polyethylene glycol in the series from diethylene glycol to nonaethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, any glycerol monobasic acid monoester (in either the alpha or beta position), such as monoformin or monoacetin, any monoether of glycerol with a monohydric alcohol, such as monomethylin or monoethylin, or any dihyclroxy alkaline in which the hydroxy radicals are attached to carbon atoms that are primary or secondary or both, in the series from dihydroxy butane to dihydroxy decane. Also the polyhydric alcohol used may be one whose molecule has two or three free hydroxy groups and consists of an ether of one or two molecules of allyl or methallyl alcohol with one molecule of a polyhydroxy compound such as glycerol, pentaglycerol, pentaerythritol, butantetrol-1,2,3,4, a trihydroxy normal alkane having from four to live carbon atoms such as butantriol-1,2,3, or a monoalkyl ether of pentaerythritol or butantetrol-l,2,3,l in which the alkyl radical has from one to four carbon atoms and has from one to two hydrogen atoms attached to the same carbon atom as the ether linkage, such as the monomethyl or monoisobutyl ether of pentaerythritol.

Part of the unsaturated dicarboxylic acid may be replaced by a saturated dicarboxylic acid, such as any normal acid in the series from oxalic acid and malonic acid to sebacic acid, or any benzene dicarboxylic, naphthalene dicarboxylic or cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid, or diglycolic, dilactic or resorcinol diacetic acid. i

In the practice of the inventionthe preferred polymerizable unsaturated alkyds are the socalled linear alkyds, i. e., those which have very little cross-linking in the alkyd molecules, as evidenced by the fact that such alkyds are soluble in solvents such as acetone. Such alkyds are formed mainly by esterification of a dihydric alcohol and a dibasic acid. Of course, such alkyds are really only substantially linear since it is not possible to avoid all cross-linking, at least through the unsaturated bonds in the alkyd molecules. In fact, a linear (or substantially linear) alkyd may be obtained even though in the preparation of such alkyd a small proportion of the dihydric alcohol (e. g., less than about 5 mol per cent of the alcohol) is replaced by a polyhydric alcohol containing more than two alcohol radicals, such as glycerol or pentaerythritol, or a small proportion of the dibasic acid (e. g., less than about mol per cent of the acid) is replaced by a polybasic acid containing more than two acid radicals, such as citric acid. The preferred linear alkyd for use in the practice of the invention is prepared by carrying out the esterification reaction substantially to completion (i. e., to an acid number of less than about 40) without permitting substantial (addition) polymerization to take place. Although the esterification reaction is usually carried out under an inert gas atmosphere so as to exclude oxygen, various inhibitors may be used to prevent appreciable polymerization of the alkyd during the esterification reaction.

The molecular weight of polymerizable unsaturated alkyds for use in the practice of the invention may vary over a wide range, depending upon the initial reacting ingredients and upon the degree of reaction obtained in the preparation of the alkyds. An alkyd used in the practice of the invention may have a molecular weight ranging from as low as about 500 to as high as about 5000, but ordinarily the molecular weights of preferred polymerizable unsaturated alkyds used in the present invention are in the lower portion of the range; for example, the molecular weight of an alkyd prepared from ethylene glycol,

. maleic anhydride and small amounts of propylene glycol and phthalic anhydride usually is within the range from about 700 to about 2000. The number of repeating units in a polymerizable unsaturated alkyd chain, i. e., the number of acid and alcohol residues in the chain-like molecules of the alkyd, may also vary, and alkyds having a high molecular weight have corresponding long chain molecules. In general, in a polymerizable alkyd used in the practice of the invention the number of repeating units in the alkyd chains may range from about 3 to about 25. However in preferred alkyds used in the present invention there are usually from about 4 to about units in thealkyd chains. Assuming that there is substantially no cross-linking in such polymer- 'izable unsaturated alkyds and that equivalent quantities of, for example, glycol and maleic acid are employed, the number of olefinic unsaturations attached to carbon atoms in the chains of such polymerizable alkyds is, of course, merely the number of acid residues in the alkyd chain. However, if part of the maleic acid is replaced by a saturated acid in the preparation of a polymerizable alkyd, the number of olefinic unsaturations is lower in proportion to the amount of saturated acid employed, even though the number of acid and alcohol units in the chain remains about the same. Other properties of the unsaturated alkyd, such as solubility in various solvents, also may be varied by selecting various reacting ingredients and varying their proportions. The infusibility, hardness and inertness of the product obtained by polymerization of the alkyd may be increased by varying the initial reacting ingredients to increase the average number of olefinic double bonds per molecule of the polymerizable alkyd.

In the preparation of the polymerizable unsaturated alkyd, any of the usual modifiers such as monobasic acids, monohydric alcohols and natural resin acids may be added. The larger the proportions of monobasic acids and monohydric alcohols, the lower is the average number of acid and alcohol residues in the resulting alkyd molecules, and the lower is the viscosity of the alkyd. On the other hand, the more nearly equal the molecular proportions of dibasic acid and dihydric alcohol, the greater is the average number of residues in the resulting alkyd molecules, and the reater is the viscosity. The proportions of ingredients used are those proportions that produce a polymerizable alkyd of the desiredviscosity. In the practice of the invention it is desirable that the proportion of monobasic acids and monc hydric alcohols be kept low enough to allow substantial growth of the chain-like molecules during preparation of the unsaturated alkyds, since the presence of a substantial proportion of such monobasic acids and monohydric alcohols retards the chain growth of the alkyds and produces alkyds which may not harden satisfactorily.

The efiect of the addition of a small proportion of a monohydric alcohol or a monobasic acid upon the chain growth of an alkyd is dependent to a great extent upon the degree of reaction attained before such a monofunctional acid or alcohol is added. For example, if added at the beginning of the reaction of a dibasic acid with a dihydric alcohol, each molecule of the monofunctional ingredient which reacts with a difunctional acid or alcohol stops the growth of that alkyd chain in one direction so that long chain molecules of the alkyd are difiicult to obtain under such conditions. However, if added when the reaction of dibasic acid and dihydric alcohol is almost complete so that fairly long chains have already been built up, the monofunctional ingredient merely esterifies those end groups present in the existing alkyd chains and, therefore, onlya small amount may be incorporated in the alkydwithout having any deleterious eifect upon the final product.

In the production of polymerizable unsaturated alkyd compositions in the practice of the invention, the proportion of monohydric alcohol or monobasic acid used is never above about 10 mol per cent of the acid or alcohol content. Ordinarily the proportion of monohydri'c alcohol or monobasic acid that may be incorporated inpolymerizable unsaturated alkyds for use in molding compositions of the invention is not more than about 5 mol per cent of the alcohol or acid content, althoughalkyds used in casting compositions occasionally may contain a slightly higher proportion of monofunctional ingredients. However, polymerizable unsaturated alkyds for use in the practice of the invention usually contain not more than about 2 mol per cent of monofunctional acid or alcohol in order that such alkyds may be readily polymerized into infusible For high melting point resins.

The point to which the reaction of the ingredients is carried in the preparation of the polymerizable alkyd is simply that point at which the product has the desired consistency. The consistency or viscosity of the alkyd (prepared by reaction under conditions whichprevent any appreciable addition polymerization) varies directly with the average number or acid andalcohol residues in the molecule;

If desired, the reaction may be expedited by use of an acid substance as a catalyst. Any

organic acid, inorganic acid or acid, salt that is soluble in the reaction mixture may be'einployed as a catalyst, but it is desirable that any' acid substance used be readily volatile or be of such a character that it has no deleterious efiect in the final product. The amount of said catalyst employed is simply that amount which accelerates the esterification to the desired degree.

The reaction carried out at a temperature high enough and for atirne long enough to secure the desired consistency. An elevated temperature preferably is employed to expedite the reaction, but during the preparation of the alkyd, the temperature should not be so high nor the time of reaction so long as to cause substantial polymerization, There is less danger of premature polymerization if an inhibiting agent is added before the esterification is carried out.

Whenever added, an inhibiting agent is used in the proportion required to give the desired degree of inhibiting eiiect. It may be necessary to use different inhibitors in widely different proportions in order to secure the same inhibiting efiect.

Any desired anti-oxidant such as hydroquinone, pyrogallol, tannic acid or any aromatic amine, such as aniline or phenylene diamine may be employed as an inhibitor.

The preparation of the unsaturated alkyd preferably is carried out in an atmosphere of an inert gas such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen or the like, I

in order to prevent cross-linking through addition polymerization as well as to prevent darkening or to make it possible to obtain a pale or colorless product. Bubbling the inert gas through the reaction ingredients is advantageous in that the gas serves the added functions of agitation and of expediting the removal of water formed by the reaction. Exclusive of oxygen is desirable not only because oxygen causes discoloration. but also because it tends to produce premature polymerization at the elevated temperatures used.

The acid number of the product depends upon the degree of reaction and the proportions of acid and alcohol used for the reaction. With equimol'ecular proportions of dibasic acid and dihydric alcohol, the reaction may be carried to'an acid number of about 20. The use of an acid catalyst may make it possible to attain a lower acid number without substantial polymeriza-tion.

A polymerizable alkyd may be prepared by the following procedure:

A three-necked flask is employed in which 5.4 mols of maleic anhydride and 5.4 mols of diethylene glycol are mixed together. The flask is then fitted with a thermometer, a tube leading to a condenser and an inlet tube through which'is introduced a moderate stream of carbon dioxide, and is lowered into an oil bath at a temamount of the ingredient lost in excess to maintain the initial proportions, the rate of removal ofunreacted ingredients gradually decreases and substantially no unreactedingredients may be left in the composition atthe end of th'e'reaction. After 8 hours at such temperature, an alkyd is obtained in the form of a stifi liquid having an acid number of 18. If ethylene glycol were substituted for the diethylene glycol in the foregoing procedure, it woud be difiicult to reduce the acid number below 40 without causing polymerization, and the product would be a very thick Alternatively, this first procedure, as described the foregoing paragraph, may be employed except that 1.5 instead of 5.4'mols'of maleic anhydride and 1.5 instead of 5.4 mols of diethylene glycol are used together with an amount of hydroquinone' equalto 0.2 per cent of the weight of 12 the reacting ingredients; and reaction is continued for 6% hours. The resulting alkyd is a moderately stiff liquid having an acid number of 11.

A further procedure that may be used is the same as the first procedure except that 2 instead of 5.4 mols oi maleic anhydride and 2.1 instead of 5.4 mols of diethylene glycol are used; and the reaction is carried out for 4 hours to produce a stifi liquid having an acid number of 14.

Another type of polymerizable alkyd ma be prepared by a procedure that is the same as the first procedure except that 3 instead of 5.4 mols of maleic anhydride and 3.3 instead of 5.4 mols of diethylene glycol are used together with an amount of hydroquinone equal to .09 per cent of the weight of the reacting ingredients and an amount of p-toluene sulionic acid equal to 0.18 per cent or" the Weight of the reacting ingredients; and the reaction is carried out for four hours at 200 C. to produce a stiff liquid having an acid number of 10.6.

As a further alternative, the first procedure may be employed except that the amount of maleic anhydride employed is 6 instead of 5. mols; the diethylene glycol is replaced by 6 mols of ethylene glycol; a slower stream of carbon dioxide is used; and the ingredients are kept in an oil bath at 220 C. for 5 /2 hours. The resulting alkyd is a very thick gum having an acid number of 53.

A polymerizable alkyd may also be prepared by a procedure that is the same as in the preceding paragraph except that the maleic anhydride is replaced by 5 mols of fumaric acid; the ethylene glycol is replaced by 5 mols of diethylene glycol; and the reaction is continued for 8% hours. The resulting alkyd is a stifi liquid having an acid number of 23. If in the foregoing procedure the diethylene glycol were replaced by an equimolecular proportion of ethylene glycol and half of the furnaric acid were replaced by an equimolecular proportion of phthalic anhydride, the product would be a hard brittle solid. The substitution of fumaric acid for maleic anhydride increases the length of time required to reach a given acid number at a given temperature. However, the accelerating effect of an acid catalyst upon the esterification is greater when fumaric acid is used. When fumaric acid is employed, other conditions being the same, the resulting alkyd tends to be more viscous and greater care is necessary in order to prevent premature polymerization.

As further variation, the first procedure may be used except that the maleic anhydride is replaced by 1.5 mols of fumaric acid; the amount of diethylene glycol employed is 1.5 instead of 5.4 mols; and the temperature is varied between 200 and 220 C. After the reaction has been continued for 2 hours, the acid number is '73. After 6 hours, the product is a stiff liquid having an acid number of 41.

A polymerizable alkyd may also be prepared by a procedure that is the same as that of the preceding paragraph except that'p-toluene sulfonic acid (1.5 grams) is added to the initial ingredients; and reaction for only 2%,; hours instead of 6 hours is required to produce a stiff liquid having an acid number of 41.

A-procedure that may also be used isthe same as that of the next to the last paragraph except that the fumaric acid is replaced by 3.3 mols'of maleic anhydride; the amount of diethyleneglycol used is 3.0 instead of 1.5 m01s;'1.5 gramsof 13 p-toluene sulfonic acid and 1.3 grams of hydroqui'none are added to the initial ingredients; and the reaction is carried out for 3 hours to produce a limpid liquid having'an acid number of 26.

A polymerizable alkyd may be prepared by a procedure that is the same as the next to the lastparagraph except that 3 instead of 1.5 mols of-fumaric acid and 3.3 instead of 1.5 mols of diethylene glycol are used; and the reaction is carried out for 3 hours at temperatures ranging from 200- 2l0 C. to produce a stiff liquid having an acid number of 12.

-A further procedure that may be used is the same as that of the next to the last paragraph except that the hydroquinone is omitted; and reaction for 5 hours is required to produce a stifi liquid having an acid number of 28. i

Another procedure that may beusedis-the same as the procedure of the next to the last paragraph'except that the weight of p-toluene sulfonic acid is equal to 0.18 per cent of the weight of the reacting ingredients; an amount of hydroquinone equal to 0.09 per cent of the weight of the reacting ingredients is added at the start of the reaction; and reaction is carried out at 200 C. for 5 hours to produce a stifi liquid which has an acid number of 10.1.

POLMERIZABLE UNSATURATED MONO- MERIC SUBSTANCE I ,Although a polymerizable unsaturated alkyd may be used alone as the polymerizable binder in the, practice of the present invention, it is oftenzdesirable to incorporate a polymerizable unsaturated liquid substance (or mixture of liquid substances) having at least one polymerizably reactive CH2=C group per molecule and having a boiling point above 80 degrees C. Although such substance may be partially polymerized before use, it is preferable that such substance be a monomer, and it is desirable that it have a pinrality of polymerizably reactive CH2=C groups per molecule, the preferred CH2=C groups being allyl groups. It is preferred also that such substance be copolymerizable with the unsaturated alkyd used in the practice of the invention.- At molding temperatures such substance aids in curing by cross-linking straight chain alkyd molecules. The combination of the alkyd and such liquid substance usually polymerizes more rapidly than either of such substances alone. When used in the proper proportions such liquid substance improves the water resistance and insolubility of the final product.

The polymerizably reactive CH2=C group or plurality of such groups inthe polymerizable unsaturated liquid substance may be contained in radicals of unsaturated acids such as itaconic acid, or in other unsaturated radicals such as vinyl and allyl radicals. These unsaturated radicals may be connected directly to carbon atoms in the molecule, or may be connected to the rest of the molecule by ester, ether or amide linkage.

A polymerizable unsaturated monomeric substance whose molecule contains only one polymerizably reactive CH2=C group may be a vinyl compound such as styrene, or p-methyl styrene, 2,4-dimethyl styrene, '2,3-dimethyl styrene, 2,5-dimethyl styrene, isopropenyl toluene, vinyl napthalene, vinyl benzoate, vinyl dibenzofuran or acrylonitrile; or an alkyl ester or the amide of a monobasic acid whose molecule contains a CH2=C group or the aldehyde corresponding to such an acid, such as methyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, isobutyl methacrylate, methacrolein, acrolein. acrylamide, or methacrylamide; or an ester of a monohydric alcohol whose molecule contains one ethylenic double bond with a. saturated monobasic acid, e. g., allyl lactate.

A polymerizable unsaturated monomeric sub-- stance whose molecule contains two or more polymerizably reactive CH2=C groups may be an ester of a monohydric alcohol whose molecule contains one CH2=C group with a monobasic acid whose molecule contains one CH2=C group (e. g., allyl acrylate or allyl methacrylate) or an ester or mixed ester of a molecule of a saturated dihydric alcohol with two molecules of a. monobasic acid whose molecule contains a: CH2=C group (e. g., ethylene dimethacrylate, triethylene dimethacrylate, propylene dimeth-- acrylate, hexamethylene dimethacrylate); or am ester or mixed ester of two alcohol molecules, each consisting of a molecule of allyl, methallyl or beta-chloro allyl alcohol, with a molecule of any of the dibasic acids listed in Table I below.

Table I Holt-0H Maleic acid HU-C-OH Chloromaleic acid BrC-C-OH O HU-lB-OH Bromomaleic acid euro- 05 Q i Jae-("FOIL Citraconic acid O CH; V H il IL a a en- I taconic: acid .HOTLITETOH Carbonic acid 0.. O lid- 5 11,

' Qxalic acid Ho-t onz .1 on Azelaic acid ll' 7 ll HO-U-(CHzh-C-OH Sebacic acid Benzene dicarboxylic acid Biphenyldicarboxylic acid l i HOC COH Naphthalene dicarboxylic acid H i HOC CBHIO) C OH Cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid 0 CH3 (H) Pyrotartaric acid Phenyl'phosphonic acid The polymerizable unsaturated monomeric substance may also be an ester of a molecule of oneofthe dibasic acids listed in Table I with one molecule of a saturated monohydrio alcohol such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopro pyl, nbutyl, isobu-tyl, secondary butyl or tertiary butyl alcohol or Cellosolve and one moleculeoi one of the unsaturated monohydric alcohols hereinbetore described.

The polymerizable monomeric compound may also be an ester or mixed ester of a molecule of a tribasic or other polybasic organic or inorganic acid with three or more monohydric' alcohol molecules each having a CH2:C group. Such monomeric compounds include triallyl tricarbal-v lylate, triallyl aconitate, triallyl citrate, triallyl phosphate, trimethally-l phosphate, triallyl cyanurate, and tetrallylsilicate.

The polymerizable monomeric compound may also consist of an ester cf two substances that will be described, one of which has a carboxy group and the other ofwhich has an alcoholic hydroxy group. The substance having a carboxy group may have the general formula F-:-OH, in which E is the acid radical of acrylic or methacrylic acid, or may have the general formula R-O--D-OH, in which R is allyl, methallyl or beta-chloro allyl and D is the divalent acid radical of any of the dibasic acids listed in Table I. When D is the divalent acid radical of itaconic acid, R may be methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, secondary butyl or tertiary butyl.

The substance having an alcoholic hydroxy group may consist of a compound having the general formula I I .oy B oH in which R is the monovalent hydrocarbon radical or monovalent chlorinated hydrocarbon radical of any of the alcohols listed in Table II. below, and in which B is methylene, methyl methylene, or any phenylene radical. The substance av n a holic hyd xy r up m y al o con.- sist of a compound having the general formula RfOD--O E O -H in which D is the divalent acid radical of any of the dibasic acids listed in Table LR has the same significance as in the precedin e al fqrmulaand E is the diva ent ra ca-lto which two hydroxy groups are attached in .y of he dih drqx com unds nst d n able III below.

Table II oEz= oHoH2o H lel #1991 9 H =Q 'QH--QE Alpha-methyl allyl alcohol CH3 'Q 2= FQ methallyl alcohol ('31 CHZ=.C.-OHQ O.H

Beta-chloro allyl alcohol Table III HO.-OHz.CHz-OH Ethylene glycol 3 GH;.CHC;H2.OH

Propylene glycol I OH no-cnra-onrom 1,2-butylene glycol OH OH CHaCHCH-CHs 2,3-butylene glycol HO( CH2)3OH Tri-methylene glycol HO-(CHz)4'-OH Tetra-methylene glycol HO,-( CH2)5-OH Penta-methylene glycol HO--(CH2)o-OH Hexa-methylene glycol no-romn-on Hepta-metliylene glycol HO-(CH2)B*';OH H Octa-metl1ylene glycol HO C Hr-CHr-OCHzCH2OH Diethylene glycol HO( CHrOHrmrCHr-CHrOH Triethylene glycol HO-( CHFGHz-O )3-CH2-CH2OH Tetraethylene glycol mor p-Dihydroxy benzene --Such a polymerizable monomeric carbon comthe general formula FO --E-O--DO -R may be prepared by first reacting one molecule of a dihydroxy compound listed in Table III with one molecule of the monochloride of a half ester of one of the dibasic acids listed in Table I with one of the alcohols listed in Table II, or in some cases of the half ester itself, (For example, a molecule of allyl chlorocarbonate, which has been prepared by reacting one molecule of allyl alcohol with a molecule of phosgene, may be reacted with a molecule of diethylene glycol.) One molecule of the resulting product may then be reacted with one molecule of the chloride of acrylic or methacrylic acid or in some cases of the acid itself.

, Polymerizable monomeric compounds having the general formula include the diallyl ester of lactocarbonate and the diallyl ester of hydroxy-aceto-carbonate. Other compounds having thi general formula, as well as polyrnerizable monomeric compounds having the general formula I may be prepared by reacting one molecule of an ester of an alcohol listed in Table II with a monobasic 'hydroxy-substituted, chloro-substituted or bromo-substituted acid, such as glycolic acid, chloracetic acid, lactic acid, alpha-bromo propionic'acid or hydroxy benzoic acid, (e. g., allyl lactate) with one molecule of a derivative of acrylic or mcthacrylic acid :or with one molecule is" of a derivative of a half ester of one of the dibaslc acids listed in Table I withfone of the-alcohols listed in Table II. In the case of itaconic acid (Table I) the half ester may also be a half ester of methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl,

secondary butyl or tertiary butyl alcohol.

Polymerizable monomeric compounds having the general formula I I include; diallylethylene glycol dioxalate', diallyl ethylene glycol dicarbonate, diallyl diethylene glycol dicarbonate, diallyl trimethylene glycol dicarbonate, diallyl ethylene glycol disuccinate, di-" allyl ethylene glycol diadipate, diallyl diethylene glycol dimaleate, dimethallyl diethyene gycol dicarbonate, diallyl diethylene glycol dimalonate, 2-(oxycarballyloxy) ethyl ethylfumarate and 2- (oxycarbomethallyloxy) ethyl methyl fumarate.

place of lactic, glycolic or 0-, m-or p-hydroxy benzoic acid, so that the general formula is then Such monomeric compounds include: carbonyl bis (methallyl lactate) carbonyl bis(allyl lactate), maleyl bis(al1yl lactate), fumaryl bis(allyl lactate), succinyl bis(allyl lactate), adipyl bis-- (allyl lactate), sebacyl bis (allyl lactate), phthalyl bis(allyl lactate), fumaryl bis(allyl 'glycolate), carbonyl bis(a1lyl glycolate), carbonyl bis(allyl salicylate) and oxalyl bis(al1yl gycinate) The polymerizable monomeric unsaturated compound may also consist of an ether of ,two similar or dissimilar molecules each consisting of an ester of glycolic, lactic or 0-, mor p-hydroxy benzoic acid with any of the alcohols listed in Table II. Such a polymerizable monomeric carbon compound has the general formula Monomeric compounds having this general formula include: the ester of alcohols listed in Table II with diglycolic acid, with diethyl ether alpha, alpha-discarboxylic acid, or with any diphenyl' ether dicarboxylic acid in which each of the benzene rings has oneca'rboxyl groupfiattached to it. In the preparation of such a compound, an ether of two hydroxy-substituted acid molecules may first be prepared by reacting the sodium derivatives ofglycolic, lacticor any hy -i droxy-benzoic acid with chloracetic or alpha-1' compound of this type whose'molecule is anfester' of two different alcohols, it may be more con-1 venient to prepare an ester of one of the alcohols listed in Table II with glycolic lactic (or jhy;

droxy-benzoic acid, and then to react the sodium derivative of such ester with the ester of a different alcohol listed in Table II and chlor-'- acetic or alpha-chlorpropionic acid, to form the ether linkake.

' The polymerizable monomeric unsaturated compound may also consist of an ether of a molecule of ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, 1,2- butylene glycol, 2,3-butylene glycol or mor p-dihydroxy benzene with two similar or dissimilar molecules each consisting of an ester of glycolic, lactic or 0-, mor p-hydroxy benzoic acid with any of the alcohols listed in Table II. Such a polymerizable monomeric carbon compound has the general formula A compound having the general formula maybe prepared by reacting one molecule of asodium derivative of ethylene, propylene or a butylene glycol or of a hydroxy benzene with two molecules of an ester of chloracetic acid or alpha-chloropropionic acid with one of the alcohols listed-in Table II, in accordance with the usual procedure for preparing ethers. If an unsymmetrical compound having this general formula is desired, one molecule of the ester of chloracetic or alpha-chloropriopionic'acid may be reacted with one molecule of the sodium'derivativeand theproduct may then be reacted with one molecule of a different esterof such an acid. As an alternative method, one molecule of the dichloro or dibromo compound corresponding to ethylene, propylene or a butylene glycol may be reacted with'two molecules of the sodium derivative of the ester of glycolic, lacticor a hydroxy ben'zoicacid with one of the alcohols listed in Table II.

The polymerizable monomeric compound may also'consist ofan ester of a molecule of silicic acid'with four molecules of a nester of 'glycolic or lactic acid with any of'the alcohols listed in Table II. Such a polymerizable monomeric carbonc'ompound has the general formula nata in... iniwhich b is methylene 'or methyl methylene andR has the same significance'as before. Such compounds include tetra(allyl glycolate) silicate and-'tetra(allyl lactate) silicate.

PREPARATION OF STABILIZED COL/[POSITION "'Ina'stabilized thermosetting composition of the'present invention containing a filler, the proportion of'filler to polymerizable binder (i. e., polymerizable unsaturated alkyd or mixture thereof with a polymerizable unsaturated monomeric substance, as hereinbefore described o'r with other liquid substances which may or may not bepolymerizable) varies with the specific characteristics of the binder and filler and with thedesi'red physical form of the composition.

Ingeneral, the proportion of an organic filler may range from 0 to about '75 per cent of the thermosetting composition. terms per cent and parts mean per cent and parts by weight unless otherwise designated.) Usually, when an organic filler is used, it is preferable that the proportion be within a range of about 50 to 65 per cent of the composition, and it is most desirable that it be about 60 per cent of the composition. The proportion of an inorganic filler may range from 0 to about per cent of the thermosetting composition, but when an inorganic filler is used, it is usually preferable that it be within a range of about 60 to 70 per cent of the composition. However, these ranges vary with the specific characteristics of the polymerizable binder in the composition.

The proportion of filler may be as large as it is possible to employ while still permitting the material to be held together by the binder in the form of a coherent finished article. The maximum proportion of filler that can be employed depends upon the absorbency of the filler, because an absorbent filler reduces the apparent proportion of binder by absorbing more of the binder.

As hereinbefore stated, from the standpoint of economy of time and money it is desirable that a thermosetting composition when received by the user contain a catalyst that promotes rapid polymerizaticn of the composition at molding temperatures. However, a curing catalyst incorporated in a thermosetting composition in an amount sufficient to cause the composition to cure completely at molding temperatures so'as to produce fully cured molded articles, in the absence of a stabilizer has the effect of promoting polymerization at atmospheric temperatures to such an extent that after storage for short periods the composition becomes a substantially infusible, worthless mass that cannot be formed into any useful product. Even during shipment such a thermosetting composition may become at least partially set up so that it is contaminated with hard spots of polymerized material. A few hard stones or precured granules may damage an expensive-mold, and also'may cause'defective spotsin pieces molded from such material which are readily apparent even to an inexperienced observer. Such spots make a molded piece un-. satisfactory for commercial use.

The use of a smaller amount of curingcatalyst than is normally required for complete cure-at molding temperatures may be effective in preventing polymerization of the composition to an infusible worthless mass during storage or shipment. However, there is a proportionate loss in the water resistance, strength, electrical properties and general quality of articles molded from the composition. During storage some of the catalyst, which is in a reduced proportion to start with, appears to decompose so that the curability becomes progressively worse until the composition becomes a worthless unpolymerizable mass. The addition of an inhibitor in place of omission of part of the catalyst has the same undesirable effect-When an ordinary inhibitor is used in an amount sufiicient to prevent polymerization of the composition at atmospheric temperatures to an infusible worthless-mass, theinhibiting action remains in efiect during fabrication of articles from the compostion and interferes wth polymerization during fabrication. During storage of the composition over a period of time the inhibitor in effect uses up the catalysts so that the composition eventually become aworthlessunpolymerizable mass.

(As used herein the r 21' J thermosetting composition embodying the invention having incorporated therein a curing catalyst is stable at atmospheric temperatures becauseit contains a stabilizer (as hereinbeiore defined). A thermosetting composition embodying the invention is stabledduring storage under ordinary conditions for a givenp'eriod in that itmeets both of the following. conditions duringv that period: (1) the composition neither polymerizes to a hard unusable mass nor develops appreciable lumps or hard centers which will pro.-

duce defective spots in pieces molded from such when the material has been stored at atmos-Q pheric'temperatures for two months it is soft and.

free from hard. centers or procured granules that damage the mold, and can be molded into pieces having a cured quality that is unimpaired by such storage. During storage after two months hard lumps of material may start to form and/or the ourability of the material may.v

start to decrease, but the material may still be a quite satisfactory for commercial use for three months of storage. After three months of storage the material may not be stable, i. e., hard centers or precured granules may develop sufficiently to cause defective spots in a molded piece that make the piece unsatisfactory for commercial use, .and/or the ourability of the material.

may decrease to such an extent that the cured quality of the molded material is not goodenough for it to be considered commercially useful.

A thermosetting composition embodying the invention rarely polymerizes during storage atatmospheric temperatures to a hard worthless mass. Instead it may becomeunstable? because thecurability of the material decreases. When the stability fails after a long period of storage by reason: of loss of ourability, such loss of curability may be due to the fact that the catalyst starts to decompose after such aperiod, so that the material does not cure .properly because theproportion of curing catalyst is too low. A com-.

position which does not contain a stabilizer and contains instead such a small amount of catalyst. that polymerization does not occur at atmos-,

pheric temperatures would fail by reason of loss of ourability after a shorter period, because the catalyst proportion is less to start With.

The proportion of curing catalyst used in the practice of the invention is simply the proportion that causes the composition to polymerize at the desired rate, and as the term catalyst implies, such proportion is the usual catalytic amount, i. e., ranging/from about 0.01 per cent to about 5 per cent ofythe polymerizable binder. It is ordinarily not desirable. to use a concentrationof catalyst larger than about 5 per cent of.

the polymerizable binder in an attempt to increase the' curability-at .molding temperatures, because beyond a certain concentration, which varies forspecific catalysts,;the catalytic effect no longer increases and remains approximately,

constant. There is also a greater tendency for acomposition containingan excess of curing ata t to p ly iz a eim sph riatem ew tures, sothat unless the amount of stabilizer used? in a thermosetting composition embodying the invention .to prevent curing .otlthecomposition; at atmospheric temperatures is also increased. the stability of the composition will be reduced? Furthermore, it isflwasteful to use a large excess of curing catalyst because the rate of decomposition. of the catalyst appears to increase with its concentration, so that thegreater. the amount of catalyst the more rapidly. it appears to be lost during storage. :.1 i

.The preferred proportion of curing catalyst. varies with different catalysts, and the amount; of a specific curing catalyst requiredItoiproduca, a given rate of hardening may vary also: with l variations in the nature of the. polymerizable composition. Benzoyl peroxide, which is .,pre-,

ferred in the practice of the present invention, is

desirably usedin a concentration ranging from, about 1 to about 3 per cent of the polymerizable:

binder. i

The proportion of large enough to make the composition sufiiciently stable at atmospheric temperatures to be commercially useful, but must not be so large that an inhibiting effect is produced at molding temperatures. That is, when too large an amountof stabilizer is present, polymerization of the com position is retarded at atmospheric temperatures, but there is a proportionate decrease in the curae bility at molding temperatures. When the. mate.- a rial is heated during fabrication to the tempera tures at which polymerization is usually carried out, e. g., 250 to 300 degrees F., the effect of the stabilizer is overcome provided there is not too much stabilizer present. Apparently at room temperature the stabilizer either prevents the formation of. free radicals which might initiate polymerization, or prevents free radicals from.

activating the unsaturated compounds. At high temperatures the stabilizer is not effective against.

the free radicals, so that while a thermosetting composition maybe stable at atmospheric tem peratures, it suffers no loss of ourability at mold-t ing temperatures. However, when too much stabilizer is present it may be sufliciently active at molding temperatures'to destroy too many free radicals, so that the ourability is reduced.

The proportion of stabilizer in a thermosettlng composition embodying the invention may vary in accordance with the stability required of the composition. Ordinarily the proportion of star bilizer. is such as to permit the composition to remain "stable (as hereinbefore defined) at atmospheric temperatures for approximately two- Thermosetting compositions which are stable for periods shorter than two,

months or more.

months are not considered to be commercially useful. Thus, the maximum proportion of stabilizer in a thermosetting composition is that which is so large as to effect seriously the cured quality of the composition after two months storage at atmospheric temperatures, so that the composition is not stable (as hereinbefore de- The minimum pro portion of stabilizer is that which is so small as' fined) aftertwo months.

to be ineifective in retarding the polymerization of the composition after two months storage atatmospheric temperatures without a proportionate decrease in ourability, so that the composition is not stable aftertwo months. The minimum proportion of stabilizer is that which is so small: as to be ineffective in retarding the polymerizationof the composition jafterwtwo stabilizerina thermosetting composition embodying the invention must be momma:

23 monthsfi stoiage': at: atmospheric: teiripeiaturesr withoutiaproportionate' decrease rinicurability; sci thattzthe: composition. not: stable after. two. months; In general, thezproportiontof. stabilizer? in; a; composition embodying; the invention: may be; as? large.- as; .6: per cent ofi-th'e polymerizable: binder'ior. asismall. asr..06 per cent'. of:1thepoly-'- merizable binder; but .the proportion. of stabilizer. thatsmay be usedin". the;practice..of..thel present: inventionzdifiers 3 with. specific: stabilizers as. well. as with the properties of the polymerizabletbinder. andiwith theproporti'on. and. emcien'cy' of. the catalyst: For example, theiproportion of.ip-xyl'o quinone'zused. in the; practice ofthe present ventiomis; not less than:.approximately. .15" pert. centcof: theipolymerizablet binder, and"; preferably is' not less: than about .25 per cent of;.ithe:-poly. merizable': binder;v The proportion; ofi this: stae bilizer usedsis: not'imore. than. approximately.481. pert centzoftthe polymerizableibin'der and prefer. ably is not more than about .35 per cent ofithet polymerizablexxbindera. When. pi-toluquinone; is use'dzasaa stabilizer, it. may be used in.pr.opor+' tionsiranging from a minimumzof .12 .to: axmaxi mumrof. -5 per cent.of.the polymerizable binden. but. preferably iswithin' the range: from .2. to. .4- per. cent" of. the polymerizable; binder. When: quinoneadioxime 1 is: used as; the: stabilizer, .it :may: beiusediin proportions ranging from a minimum; of: .06 to. azmaximum of i'.2:- per cent-of the polymerizable. binder; but; preferably is: within. the: rangeffrom .1. tOIlGDBIBEIltIOf .theipolymerizable; binder. I When .quinone: chlorimide isused. as the. stabilizer; it: may be used inzproportions ranging. froma minimum of. .1.toi' amaximumof .45- per-r cent ofithe polymerizabletbinder; but preferablyis withimtheirange. from..25 to .35 per. cent; of: theiapolymerizable: binder When .thymoquinone isrusedastheastabilizer, it'. may be'used'in proportions; rangingfrom. a minimum of .1 to azmax imum of. .55 per cent. of the polymerizabletbinder, but: preferably 'is within .the:range:from1.25 to .35 perrcentoflthe polymerizable binder. When 2,6- d'ich-loroquinone: is. used as the: stabilizer, itamay' beaused iniproportions ranging from? aiminimum: of: .1. to. aitmaximum of: .35 per centofithe.1poly'- merizable: binder, but; preferably is. within". the: range from: .15.?to' .25 per: centoithe' polymeriz:-- able binder. When;2','6'-dibromoquinone chlori.-.-- midevist'usedzas; the stabilizenitmay be used in proportions ranging from a: minimumofi .15 to a maximum of: .60 per cent of the? polymerizable: binder, but preferablyiswithin the range from .40 170.50 per cent ofl'th'e' polymerizable binder Whenithymoquinone.monoxide is used asthe sta bilizen, it may? be used in proportionsranging fromi'a" minimum: of .10:to a maximumof .35 per cent of the p'oly-merizable binder, but" preferably iswithin therange from120'to .SO 'per cent of the polymerizabla binder. However, these ranges only indicate the practical proportions of such sta'bili'zersthat may be used to prepare a stabilized 'thermosetting composition embodying the invention containing. theamount of curing catalyst ordinarily, used and. containing .an. alkyd. having ordinary properties. For example al-.- though. use of a stabilizer. in the minimum amountindicat'ed ordinarily gives acomposition. having a stability'of at least two. months, Witha largeamount' of catalyst therstabilizer might: have to be used in a larger 'proportionto produce the sameistability; on. the. other hand, when the polymeriz'able': binder has-relatively lesstendency" to" polymerize" at atmospheric temperatures; the

24 same proportion of. the; stabilizer; might produce arstability of:longer1than two-months:

'Ihei-stabilizing"effect produced by a specific; stabilizerwdifferswith various Polymerizable un saturated monomeric: substances, asrhereinbefore.

described; that. may be present in' the poly! merizable binder; At'molding temperaturessuch. a: monomericsubstance: often seems; to aid overcoming. the: stability f toward polymerization producediby. the stabilizer; at atmospheric temperatures. The stabilizer neutralizes: or. im-

mobilizes free: radicals at atmospheric; tempera-.-

ing-temperatures.

aids in curing thecomposition;

The proportion-of monomeric substanceinrthe: polymeriza'ble: binder that: may be used; in a thermosetting composition of. the invention varies;

zin accordance with. the physical form of: the,

composition as well. as with the proportion and effectiveness of the stabilizer employed. Ingeneral, whentless than 2aper cent oftthe polymer-'- izable binder consistsof at polymerizable mono meric substance, the monomermay be ineffective. inhelping to cross:-link;:the' straight chain alkyd.-

Thus; itisj.

molecules. at: moldings temperatures. desirable that the monomer comprise: atleast: 2.

percent? of the. polymerizable binder, and.the"- proportion of monomer maybe as high as: 98

percent of the polymerizable binder. It is usual ly'preferableithat at'least'20 to 40 per. cent of the binder consist of a polymerizable' unsaturated monomeric substance.

binder that consists of'approximately toper centof apolymerizable monomeric compound andaboutrYOto 90 percent of a polymerizable. alkyd produces a final polymerizable product that; has excellentwater: resistance and insolubility.'.

vIn order. toz-compareithe effectiveness of various stabilizersrwhich may be. used in the.prep-. arationofza:stabilized thermosetting. composition; embodying the invention, seven simultaneous.

tests are. conducted. In each test, several solid.-

1umps,.about two inches in diameter, .ofaputty like material containing one of the. stabilizers described hereinbeforeare prepared and tested forstability as follows: (The stabilizer employedin each material so prepared islisted in the:

first column of TableIV', and the second column of Table IV indicates the: amount used, which: is approximately the optimum. proportion for. such a composition.)

A-polymerizablebinder; consisting of 23.6 parts; of a polymerizableunsaturated alkyd (prepared; by esterifying 1.0 mol of ethylene gly.col.with..0.2

mol of phthalic' anhydride and 0.8 mol of maleic. anhydride. by the procedure. hereinbefore: de'

- scribed to anxacidnum'ber of and 9.2-parts of a. polymerizable unsaturated. liquid monomer (diallyl phthalate), is mi'xed'in a Banbury mixer with 113' parts of Luperco A'I'C catalyst (a paste consisting. of per centibenzoyl peroxide. and 50 per cent tricresyl' phosphate), 2 parts ofa-lubri'cant (zinc stearate'), a filler consisting of 48'parts of clay and 20 parts of asbestos, and astabilizer.

A granular. thermoset+-v tingcomposition: which contains a polymerizable;

v The mixing is continued until a soft, homogeneous dough is obtained. Thema terialis'then rem'oved'from the-mixer-and formed the material) 1 H 1 At intervals during storage, one lump of each putty-like material is cut through'the center and Thelumps are cooled, and are then stored in closed containers at 90 degrees F, andat 30, :to 50 :per' cent .relatiyehumidity" to determine the length of time for which the material may be, stored before it can:no longer be considered stable'd. e.,to determine the moldable life of examined for the presence: :of stones 'orhard centers (hardening ordinarily occurs'first in the center). After examinationof the centers, each lump so examined is extruded into a rod or ribbon about one-quarter inch thick,'and the extruded material is testedfor cured quality by molding it in a small tumbler mold at ordinary pressures (e. g., 1000-2000 pounds per squareinch of projected area). The small tumbler so molded weighs about 13 grams and is 1 inches high,

' having a top diameter'oi 1 inches and a bottom diameter of 1 inches.

The results of the tests areshown in the third column of Table IV. The figures representthe number of days for which the material contain-- ing' a stabilizer indicated in the first column in an amount indicated in the second column is f stable, as hereinbefore defined.

Forthe sake of comparison, lumps of a material that is the same except that it contains no stabilizer are simultaneously prepared and tested tive humidity than are compositions which are the same except that they do not contain one .of the stabilizers used in the practice of the present invention.

(Such conditions are. more extreme than the conditions to which the material ordinarily would be subjected; At room I temperature the stability is, of course, much better. For example, the'stability at room temperature of the composition'd'escribed as a control in Table IV below is approximately one month, in contrast ,to 8 days at 90 F.)

Table IV to warm the binder to reduce its viscosity when it is mixed with the filler. In any case, it is desirable to mix the binder in a liquid state with the filler so that the filler becomes thoroughly mixed with the binder. l

If the binder in a composition embodyinQthe invention comprises a viscous polymerizable substance and a less viscous polymerizable substance, the polymerization catalyst may be dissolved in the less viscous polymerizable substance before the two substances are mixed, Also, the polymerization: catalyst maybe dispersed ina filler, as by grinding with the filler in a ball mill, before the filler is mixed with the binder; A fibrous filler may be impregnated with a solution of the polymerization catalystin a yolatilesol- ,vent and dried before the filler is mixedwith the binder. The stabilizer ordinarily maybe added to the polymerizable binder after the addition of the catalyst. If there is a tendency for the material to polymerize at mixing temperatures whenthe catalyst is added the stabilizer may be added hefore the catalyst or with the catalyst. Forexample, when a binder containing a hard alkyd: is use it must be'warmed in order to reduce its viscosity when it is mixed with a filler.- Ordinarily during heating the composition contain- Amount Days Stabilizer (parts) Stable p-xyloquiuone 12 l8 p-toluquinone 1 44 quinone dioxime 04 26 thymoquinona L 1 40 2,6-dichloroquinone 08 109 2,6-dibromoquinone chloroimida. 15 23 thymoquinone monoxime 08 21 control 8 In the preparation of a thermosetting composition embodying the invention the polymerizable binder, catalyst and stabilizer may bemixed with a filler in the proper proportions to obtain;

a homogeneous composition having the desired consistency, i e., a soft dough,- or a material having a leathery texture, etc. Mixing of a filler with the other ingredients may be carried out in any suitable mixing or kneading apparatus,-

e. g., by using any commercial mixer or by milling the filler into the material; on a rubber mill.

use AS A LAMINATING coMPosrrroifl Although the foregoing discussion of the stability of compositions embodying the invention has referred primarily to stabilized compositions embodying. the invention which contain a filler and which may be used as molding compositions, a stabilizer used in the practice of the invention has beenfound to be extremely effective in extending the liquid life of thermosetting compositions embodying theinvention which are-used as laminating resins. For example, a stabilizer used in the practice of the invention. in the amounts hereinbefore described is efiective in preventing gelling of a laminating resin roomprising a polymerizable binder and a.catalyst,:as hereinbefore described, for atleastone month. A laminating resin Which has a liquid life of one month, i. e., a resin which does not gel upon storage at atmospheric temperatures for one month, is advantageous for commercial use:

A' laminating composition of the invention containing catalyst and stabilizer may. be

brushed or sprayed onto the material to be laminated (or the material maybe dipped into a solution (e. e., a 50 percent acetone solution) of the laminating resin), and the sheets-10f the material may be air-dried beforeassembling and curing under pressure by any of the procedures ordinarily employed in the production of laminates. 3 7

USE AS 'A MOLDING- COMPOSITIQIjT A composition comprising a polymerizable alkyd is highly advantageous for thejmoldlng of articles under pressure. Since a polymeriza'ble alkyd is fusibleand plastic at a relativelydow temperature, it is possible to adjust the amounts of catalyst and stabilizer so that hardening at such a temperature takes place at a i reasonable ate to allow ample opportunity for shapingand *molding-"of "the composition. Shaping --andm'oldi'ng may-be' completed at such a" temperature; and

the shaped composition may then be -heldat' the 1 "same temperature While slow hardening takes place; or may-be heated to ahigher temperature to cause quick hardening. These properties'are in contrast to. those of urea-formaldehyde, melamine formaldehyde and phenol-formaldehyde -resi-ns,' which are plastic only at elevated temperatures :at Whichthey harden so rapidlyl that liardening'interferes With shaping. Hardening oi -a polymerizable alkyd .can b carried I out at a temperature that is .far below -fthedecomposition"temperature of the alkyd and thus -at-a temperature at which discoloration does not take place. Other heat har denable products, such as urea-, melamineor phenol- -"formaldehy'de products, must he heated much "closer to their decomposition temperaturesfin :or'der-to cause har'deni'ng totake place even at moderate 'spee'd. W'hen an attempt Llis made to 'liai' den such other products rapidly by 'raising -t'he hai-dening temperature, discoloration or 'burning is likely to result.

A polymerizable alkyd may be i'fabricatedin an injectionmolding ma'chine. A supply' of the al-kyd containing the curinglcatalyst may beheld -inthe supply cylinder of the machinenataa tem-" injebtion molding of the polymerizablefalkydfthe mold i's 'at a higher? temperature than the supply cylin'der, v'vhereas in inj ection molding of the the'rmoplastic material the mold. is -.at..'a lower 't'empeiature' 'than the. supplyv cylinder.

'Phus -a polymerizable .alkydlcan be .moldedwas. economicallyxasfa thermoplastic material. The

niolding of o ther.heat hardenable products-is a uoh slo'wer and more expensive operation than the-molding of 'a thermoplastic material.

iCare "should be taken that any-materialuincorporate'din acomposition embodying the invention does not tendito: cause the composition fto set' up during its. preparation or during storage (e.."g.',- carbon black is undesirable for this rea- 's'on) InT thei preparationzof a' molding composi "tion; plasticizers; lubricants; fillers, pigmentsand othencoloring matter may be incorporated if .desired.

' The-followingiexamples illustrate thepreparation cf a: stabilized .thermosetting composition.

Example 1 Apolymeri'zable binder, consisting'of 21.3 parts bf apolymerizable unsaturated alkyd (prepared byesterifying-QO mol percent of propyleneglycol and-- 8O mol percent ofethylene glycol with 12.5 smelt-per. cent of .phthalic anhydride and 87.5 mol leper-center maleic anhydride by the procedure J hereinbefore described to an acid number or and 11.5 parts of a polymerizable unsaturated liquid monomer (-dially1 phthalate), is 'mixed in a Baribury mixer with -1.3 parts of". Luperco AT "catalyst. 2 partsof a lubricant-(zinc' stearate) a fillerconsisting 0f 48 par-tsof 'cl'ay'zand 20 parts of asbestos, and'a stabilizer (.1 part 'of quinone chlorimide) I .The: mixing is :continued until a soft, homogeneous putty ..:is .obtained. Lumps (approximately two inchesiinzdiameter) "of the materiali'so prepared:remainistable:at 1 degrees .EandJiat 5:30 .to .50 :per .cent :relative f'humidityi for approximately 38 :days. LLumpsof a putty-like :material :prepared why .a procedure Hthatisthe same except thatnostabilizer is added fare :stable ."under the i same ..'conditions .for only '8 idays. :lSimi'lar .results are obtained when ran zequ'ivalent proportion'of. diethylene glycol .is.used .zin'place otthe; mono-ethyleneiglycol in. theprep- .aration'ofi the.polymerizablerunsaturated alkyd.

Example? 7 3A stabilized composition of --the invention 91s prepared by the procedure described in...the-.pre-

. ceding +example1except' .that the stabilizer 1 used .consistsof ;05;-.part of thymoquinonei monoxime.

Lumps of. the resulting compositionzremainzstable for. 12 'daysat 90*F.: and 30.to 50 per centrelative 'humidity. .Lumps .of a composition prepared by a procedure thatis thersame-.except-that-.the amountofstabilizer. used is .1-. partrremain .stable under the: same: conditions. for-.21cdays.

A-stabilized composition .of .the invention is prepared by the procedure described. in..-Example .Lexcept that the stabilizer.usedconsists.of .1

v.partor. 2,6;dichloroquinone. .Lumps. of the resizltingcomposition remain stable i or days ..at 909.1. and 30.to.50,per..cent relative humidity.

Example 34 A stabilized composition .of the .invention is ..prepard .by.the. procedure'describe'd in Example ll except that 'thestabilizer usedconsistsmf .1

part ofTI2,6-'dibromoquinone .chlorimide. Lumps o'f'the' resulting composition "remain 'stablefor .over2flidays at 90"Rand30 toi50'per'centrela- .tive humidity.

"I claim:

1. A stabilized thermosetting composition;comprising 1) a polymerizable unsaturated alkyd whose molecule contains a plurality of polymerizable reactive A 2,3-ene'dio'yl groups; (2)" a cataly'st oftheiclass consisting of :organic peroxides ..and-organic.-ozonides; and (3) an agent for increasing the: stability of the composition at atmospheric temperatures. Without proportionately decreasing the curability of'the-compositionlof the class consisting of substituted p-benzoqui nones having not more than itwoinuclear substituents and having from six .to. elevencarbon atoms, any nuclear substituent other than an alkyl radical consisting of a halogen atom having an atomic Weight between 35 and-'80, and any substituents replacing oxygen atoms being of the class'consisting'of (a) from one -totwo hydroximino radicals and (b) from one totwo ichlorimino radicals.

A stabilized thermosetting compositionas claimed in claim l'wherein the agent has-at least 'one'nuclear substituent.

3. 'A-' stabilized thermosetting composition as .claimed in *claim 1 wherein the agent i is only ""nuclearly substituted.

4. 1A stabilized "thermosetting composition as claimed in i claim 1 "wherein the agent has at least one alk'yr radical.

5. A stabilized thermosetting composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein the agent has two alkyl radicals.

6. A stabilized thermosetting composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein the agent is p-toluquinone.

7. A stabilized thermosetting composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein the agent is thymoquinone.

8. A stabilized thermosetting composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein the agent is thymoquinone monoxime.

9. A stabilized thermosetting composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein the agent has two nuclear halogen atoms.

10. A stabilized thermosetting composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein the agent is 2,6- dichloroquinone.

11. A stabilized thermosetting composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein the agent is 2,6- dibromoquinone chlorimide.

THOMAS F. ANDERSON.

No references cited. 

1. A STABILIZED THERMOSETTING COMPOSITION, COMPRISING (1) A POLYMERIZABLE UNSATURATED ALKYD WHOSE MOLECULE CONTAINS A PLURALITY OF POLYMERIZABLE REACTIVE $ 2,3-ENEDIOYL; (2) A CATALYST OF THE CLASS CONSISTING OF ORGANIC PEROXIDES AND ORGANIC OZONIDES; AND (3) AN AGENT FOR INCREASING THE STABILITY OF THE COMPOSITION AT ATMOSPHERIC TEMPERATURES WITHOUT PROPORTIONATELY DECREASING THE CURABILITY OF THE COMPOSITION, OF THE CLASS CONSISTING OF SUBSTITUTED P-BENZOQUINONES HAVING NOT MORE THAN TWO NUCLEAR SUBSTITUENTS AND HAVING FROM SIX TO ELEVEN CARBON ATOMS, ANY NUCLEAR SUBSTITUENT OTHER THAN AN ALKYL RADICAL CONSISTING OF A HALOGEN ATOM HAVING AN ATOMIC WEIGHT BETWEEN 35 AND 80, AND ANY SUBSTITUENTS REPLACING OXYGEN ATOMS BEING OF THE CLASS CONSISTING OF (A) FROM ONE TO TWO HYDROXIMINO RADICALS AND (B) FROM ONE TO TWO CHLORIMINO RADICALS. 